MANFAAT PEPAYA

1.Menurunkan kolesterol: Pepaya kaya akan serat, vitamin C dan antioksidan yang mencegah kolesterol membangun di arteri Anda. Terlalu banyak kolesterol membangun-up dapat memblokir arteri sepenuhnya, menyebabkan serangan jantung. Ekstrak pepaya juga telah ditemukan untuk mengurangi lipid dan trigliserida pada tikus diabetes [1]. Anda juga mungkin ingin membaca bagaimana mengurangi kadar kolesterol secara alami.
2. Membantu penurunan berat badan: Satu media berukuran pepaya mengandung hanya 120 kalori. Jadi, jika Anda berencana untuk menurunkan berat badan, jangan lupa untuk menambahkan buah lampu ini untuk diet Anda. Selain itu juga dikemas dengan sejumlah besar serat makanan yang membantu penurunan berat badan dengan mempromosikan perasaan kenyang dan mengendalikan nafsu [2].
3. Meningkatkan kekebalan Anda: sistem kekebalan tubuh Anda bertindak sebagai perisai terhadap berbagai infeksi yang dapat membuat Anda benar-benar sakit. Sebuah pepaya tunggal dapat memenuhi lebih dari 200% dari kebutuhan harian Anda dari vitamin C, sehingga bagus untuk membangun sistem kekebalan tubuh lebih kuat.
4.Good untuk penderita diabetes: Meskipun manis di alam, pepaya yang rendah kadar gula (8,3 gm di satu cangkir irisan pepaya) serta indeks glikemik. Properti ini membuat pepaya buah sangat baik untuk penderita diabetes. Vitamin dan fitonutrien hadir di dalamnya mencegah perkembangan penyakit jantung pada diabetes. Juga, orang-orang yang tidak memiliki diabetes bisa makan pepaya untuk mencegah hal itu terjadi. Anda juga mungkin ingin membaca bagaimana mencegah diabetes dengan diet kaya serat sehat.
5. Besar untuk mata Anda: Pepaya kaya akan vitamin A dan flavonoid seperti beta-karoten, zeaxanthin, cyptoxanthin dan lutein yang menjaga selaput lendir di mata sehat, mencegah mereka dari kerusakan. Vitamin A di dalamnya juga mencegah perkembangan terkait usia makula degenerasi [2]. Hal terbaik tentang pepaya adalah bahwa karotenoid hadir di dalamnya lebih bio tersedia daripada mereka yang hadir dalam vitamin A makanan kaya lainnya seperti tomat dan wortel [3].
6. Melindungi terhadap arthritis: Arthritis dapat menjadi penyakit yang benar-benar melemahkan dan orang-orang yang memilikinya dapat menemukan kualitas hidup mereka berkurang secara signifikan. Makan pepaya yang baik untuk tulang Anda karena mereka memiliki sifat anti-inflamasi bersama dengan Vitamin C yang membantu dalam menjaga berbagai bentuk arthritis di teluk. Sebuah studi yang diterbitkan di Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases menunjukkan bahwa orang yang mengkonsumsi makanan rendah vitamin C tiga kali lebih mungkin untuk memiliki arthritis daripada mereka yang tidak. Juga membaca 9 cara yang bisa melawan arthritis dengan makanan.
7. Memperbaiki pencernaan: Pada zaman sekarang ini, hampir mustahil untuk menghindari makan makanan yang buruk bagi sistem pencernaan Anda. Seringkali kita menemukan diri kita makan junk food atau restoran makanan siap dalam jumlah berlebihan minyak. Makan pepaya setiap hari dapat menebus kesalahan sesekali seperti, karena memiliki enzim pencernaan yang dikenal sebagai papain bersama dengan serat yang membantu meningkatkan kesehatan pencernaan Anda.
8. Membantu meringankan nyeri haid: Wanita yang mengalami nyeri haid harus membantu diri mereka sendiri untuk beberapa porsi pepaya, sebagai enzim yang disebut papain membantu dalam mengatur dan mengurangi aliran selama periode menstruasi. Berikut adalah beberapa pengobatan rumah untuk meredakan nyeri haid.
9. Mencegah tanda-tanda penuaan: Kita semua akan senang untuk tetap muda selamanya, tetapi tidak ada seorang pun di dunia ini telah berhasil melakukannya. Namun, kebiasaan sehat seperti makan pepaya setiap hari akan memperpanjang proses dan dapat membuat Anda terlihat lebih muda dari 5 tahun Anda. Pepaya kaya akan vitamin C, vitamin E dan antioksidan seperti beta-karoten yang membantu mencegah kulit Anda dari radikal bebas kerusakan menjaga kerutan dan tanda-tanda lain dari penuaan di teluk. Berikut adalah bagaimana Anda dapat menggunakan pepaya untuk menjaga kulit Anda bersinar indah.
10. Meningkatkan pertumbuhan rambut: Terlepas dari menjaga kulit sehat, pepaya sangat efektif untuk menjaga kesehatan rambut. Vitamin A di dalamnya digunakan dalam produksi sebum, suatu senyawa yang sangat penting untuk menjaga rambut halus, mengkilap dan dilembabkan. Aplikasi luar ekstrak pepaya untuk kulit kepala dapat membantu Anda menyingkirkan ketombe. Nutrisi hadir dalam mereka membantu rambut rontok. Mereka mendorong pertumbuhan rambut dan penguatan. Meskipun tidak ada bukti ilmiah, pepaya juga berpikir untuk mencegah rambut menipis [3].
11. Kanker Mencegah: Pepaya merupakan sumber yang kaya antioksidan, fitonutrien dan flavonoid yang mencegah sel-sel Anda dari menjalani kerusakan radikal bebas. Sebuah studi yang dilakukan oleh Harvard School of Public Health Department menunjukkan kekayaan beta karoten di pepaya dilindungi terhadap pertumbuhan kanker prostat dan kanker usus besar [3].
12. Membantu mengurangi stres: Setelah bekerja keras sepanjang hari, itu adalah ide yang baik untuk datang ke rumah piring pepaya a. Keajaiban buah kaya nutrisi seperti beberapa Vitamin C yang dapat membuat Anda bebas dari stres. Menurut sebuah studi yang dilakukan di University of Alabama, menemukan bahwa 200 mg vitamin C dapat membantu mengatur aliran hormon stres pada tikus.

MANFAAT APEL

1. Dapatkan lebih putih, gigi sehat
Apel tidak akan mengganti sikat gigi Anda, tetapi menggigit dan mengunyah apel merangsang produksi air liur dalam mulut Anda, mengurangi kerusakan gigi dengan menurunkan tingkat bakteri.
2. Hindari Alzheimer
Sebuah studi baru yang dilakukan pada tikus menunjukkan bahwa minum jus apel bisa menjaga Alzheimer pergi dan melawan efek penuaan pada otak. Tikus dalam studi yang diberi diet apel ditingkatkan menunjukkan tingkat yang lebih tinggi dari neurotransmitter asetilkolin dan melakukan yang lebih baik dalam tes labirin dibandingkan pada diet biasa.
3. Melindungi terhadap Parkinson
Penelitian telah menunjukkan bahwa orang yang makan buah-buahan dan makanan tinggi serat lainnya mendapatkan sejumlah perlindungan terhadap Parkinson, penyakit yang ditandai dengan gangguan dopamin-memproduksi sel-sel saraf otak. Para ilmuwan telah menghubungkan ini untuk kekuatan radikal melawan bebas dari antioksidan yang terkandung di dalamnya.
4. Curb segala macam kanker
Para ilmuwan dari American Association for Cancer Research, antara lain, setuju bahwa konsumsi apel kaya flavonol dapat membantu mengurangi resiko terkena kanker pankreas hingga 23 persen. Para peneliti di Cornell University telah mengidentifikasi beberapa senyawa triterpenoid-in-kulit apel yang memiliki ampuh kegiatan anti-pertumbuhan terhadap sel kanker di hati, usus besar dan payudara. Penelitian mereka sebelumnya menemukan bahwa ekstrak dari seluruh apel dapat mengurangi jumlah dan ukuran tumor mammae pada tikus. Sementara itu, National Cancer Institute di AS telah merekomendasikan asupan serat tinggi untuk mengurangi risiko kanker kolorektal.
5. Menurunkan risiko diabetes
Wanita yang makan setidaknya satu apel sehari adalah 28 persen lebih mungkin mengembangkan diabetes tipe 2 dibandingkan mereka yang tidak makan apel. Apel memang kaya serat larut, kunci untuk menumpulkan ayunan gula darah.
6. Mengurangi kolesterol
Serat larut ditemukan dalam apel mengikat dengan lemak di usus, yang diterjemahkan ke dalam menurunkan kadar kolesterol dan sehat Anda.
7. Dapatkan jantung sehat
Sebuah badan ekstensif penelitian telah mengaitkan asupan serat larut tinggi dengan penumpukan lambat plak kaya kolesterol dalam arteri Anda. The fenolik senyawa yang ditemukan dalam kulit apel juga mencegah kolesterol yang masuk ke sistem Anda dari memperkuat di dinding arteri Anda. Ketika plak membangun di dalam arteri Anda, mengurangi aliran darah ke jantung Anda, yang mengarah ke penyakit arteri koroner.
8. Mencegah batu empedu
Batu empedu terbentuk ketika ada terlalu banyak kolesterol dalam empedu Anda untuk itu untuk tetap sebagai cairan, sehingga membeku. Mereka sangat umum di obesitas. Untuk mencegah batu empedu, dokter menyarankan diet tinggi serat untuk membantu Anda mengontrol kadar kolesterol dan berat badan Anda.
9. Kocok diare dan sembelit
Apakah Anda tidak bisa pergi ke kamar mandi atau Anda tidak bisa berhenti, serat yang ditemukan dalam apel dapat membantu. Serat baik dapat menarik air keluar dari usus Anda untuk menjaga hal-hal bergerak bersama ketika Anda didukung, atau menyerap kelebihan air dari tinja Anda untuk memperlambat perut Anda ke bawah.
10. Menetralkan sindrom iritasi usus besar
Sindrom iritasi usus ditandai dengan sembelit, diare, dan sakit perut dan kembung. Untuk mengontrol gejala ini dokter sarankan tinggal jauh dari makanan susu dan lemak sementara termasuk asupan tinggi serat dalam diet Anda.
11. Avert wasir
Wasir adalah urat bengkak di anal kanal dan sementara tidak mengancam kehidupan, pembuluh darah ini bisa sangat menyakitkan. Mereka disebabkan oleh terlalu banyak tekanan di daerah panggul dan rektum. Bagian tak terpisahkan dengan mengendalikan sembelit, serat dapat mencegah Anda dari mengejan terlalu banyak saat akan ke kamar mandi dan dengan demikian membantu meringankan wasir.
Anda berat 12. Kontrol
Banyak masalah kesehatan yang berhubungan dengan kelebihan berat badan, di antaranya penyakit jantung, stroke, tekanan darah tinggi, diabetes tipe 2 dan apnea tidur. Untuk mengelola berat badan dan meningkatkan kesehatan Anda secara keseluruhan, dokter menyarankan diet kaya serat. Makanan tinggi serat akan mengisi Anda tanpa biaya Anda terlalu banyak kalori.
Anda hati 13. Detoksifikasi
Kami terus mengkonsumsi racun, apakah itu dari minuman atau makanan, dan hati Anda bertanggung jawab untuk membersihkan racun ini dari tubuh Anda. Banyak dokter yang skeptis dari diet detoks, mengatakan mereka memiliki potensi untuk melakukan lebih berbahaya daripada baik. Untungnya, salah satu yang terbaik-dan termudah-hal yang dapat Anda makan untuk membantu mendetoksifikasi hati Anda adalah buah-seperti apel.
14. Meningkatkan sistem kekebalan tubuh Anda
Apel merah mengandung antioksidan yang disebut quercetin. Studi terbaru menemukan bahwa quercetin dapat membantu meningkatkan dan memperkuat sistem kekebalan tubuh Anda, terutama ketika Anda sedang stres.
15. Mencegah katarak
Meskipun penelitian terakhir telah dibagi dalam masalah ini, studi jangka panjang terbaru menunjukkan bahwa orang yang memiliki pola makan kaya buah-buahan yang mengandung antioksidan seperti apel-yang 10 sampai 15 persen lebih kecil kemungkinannya untuk mengembangkan katarak.

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

                Welcome to our guide to Germany. This is useful for anyone researching German culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Germany on business, for a visit or even hosting German colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all German people you may meet!

                Facts and Statistics

Location:  Central Europe, bordering Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km.

Capital:   Berlin

Climate:  temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind.

Population:  82,424,609 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish,

Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish).

Religions:  Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Government:  federal republic

                Languages in Germany

                The official language of Germany is German, with over 95% of the population speaking German as their first language. Minority languages include Sorbian, spoken by 0.09% in the east of Germany; North and West Frisian, spoken around the Rhine estuary by around 10,000 people, or 0.01%, who also speak German.

                Danish is spoken by 0.06%, mainly in the area along the Danish border. Romani, an indigenous language is spoken by around 0.08%. Immigrant languages include Turkish, which is spoken by around 1.8%, and Kurdish, by 0.3%.

                German Society & Culture

A Planning Culture

In many respects, Germans can be considered the masters of planning.

This is a culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day.

Careful planning, in one's business and personal life, provides a sense of security.

Rules and regulations allow people to know what is expected and plan their life accordingly.

Once the proper way to perform a task is discovered, there is no need to think of doing it any other way.

Germans believe that maintaining clear lines of demarcation between people, places, and things is the surest way to lead a structured and ordered life.

Work and personal lives are rigidly divided.

There is a proper time for every activity. When the business day ends, you are expected to leave the office. If you must remain after normal closing, it indicates that you did not plan your day properly.

The German Home

ü  Germans take great pride in their homes.

ü  They are kept neat and tidy at all times, with everything in its appointed place.

ü  In a culture where most communication is rather formal, the home is the place where one can relax and allow your individualism to shine.

ü  Only close friends and relatives are invited into the sanctity of the house, so it is the one place where more informal communication may occur.

ü  There are many unwritten rules surrounding the outward maintenance of one's home.

ü  It is imperative that common areas such as sidewalks, pavements, corridors (in apartments), and steps be kept clean at all times.

                German Etiquette & Customs

1.       Meeting Etiquette

ü  Greetings are formal.

ü  A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

ü  Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.

ü  In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group.

ü  When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children.

                Gift Giving Etiquette

ü  If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers.

ü  Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.

ü  Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.

ü  Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.

ü  Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

ü  If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine.

ü  Gifts are usually opened when received.

                Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a German's house:

ü  Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early.

ü  Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained. 

ü  Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

                Table manners

ü  Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.

ü  Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

ü  Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says 'guten appetit' (good appetite).

ü  At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her napkin in her lap before doing so yourself.

ü  Do not rest your elbows on the table.

ü  Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork.

ü  Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender.

ü  Finish everything on your plate.

ü  Rolls should be broken apart by hand.

ü  Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the knife.

ü  The host gives the first toast.

ü  An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

ü  The most common toast with wine is 'Zum Wohl!' ('good health').

ü  The most common toast with beer is 'Prost!' ('good health').

ü  Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany

                Relationships & Communications

ü  Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business.

ü  They will be interested in your academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in business.

ü  Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it is imperative that they understand your level relative to their own.

ü  Germans do not have an open-door policy. People often work with their office door closed. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering.

ü  German communication is formal.

ü  Following the established protocol is critical to building and maintaining business relationships.

ü  As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.

ü  Germans will be direct to the point of bluntness.

ü  Expect a great deal of written communication, both to back up decisions and to maintain a record of decisions and discussions.

                Business Meeting Etiquette

ü  Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

ü  Letters should be addressed to the top person in the functional area, including the person's name as well as their proper business title.

ü  If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be written in German.

ü  Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it could jeopardize your business relationship.

ü  Meetings are generally formal.

ü  Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow your German colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

ü  Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings.

ü  At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their knuckles on the tabletop.

ü  There is a strict protocol to follow when entering a room:The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

ü  Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly equivalent.

                Business Negotiation

ü  Do not sit until invited and told where to sit. There is a rigid protocol to be followed.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.

ü  Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic.

ü  Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in the briefest of small talk. They will be interested in your credentials.

ü  Make sure your printed material is available in both English and German.

ü  Contracts are strictly followed.

ü  You must be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol. Germans are detail- oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.

ü  Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of the company.

ü  Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter.

ü  Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive.

ü  Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

                 Dress Etiquette

ü  Business dress is understated, formal and conservative.

ü  Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.

ü  Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses.

ü  Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories.

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

                Welcome to our guide to Germany. This is useful for anyone researching German culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Germany on business, for a visit or even hosting German colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all German people you may meet!

                Facts and Statistics

Location:  Central Europe, bordering Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km.

Capital:   Berlin

Climate:  temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind.

Population:  82,424,609 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish,

Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish).

Religions:  Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Government:  federal republic

                Languages in Germany

                The official language of Germany is German, with over 95% of the population speaking German as their first language. Minority languages include Sorbian, spoken by 0.09% in the east of Germany; North and West Frisian, spoken around the Rhine estuary by around 10,000 people, or 0.01%, who also speak German.

                Danish is spoken by 0.06%, mainly in the area along the Danish border. Romani, an indigenous language is spoken by around 0.08%. Immigrant languages include Turkish, which is spoken by around 1.8%, and Kurdish, by 0.3%.

                German Society & Culture

A Planning Culture

In many respects, Germans can be considered the masters of planning.

This is a culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day.

Careful planning, in one's business and personal life, provides a sense of security.

Rules and regulations allow people to know what is expected and plan their life accordingly.

Once the proper way to perform a task is discovered, there is no need to think of doing it any other way.

Germans believe that maintaining clear lines of demarcation between people, places, and things is the surest way to lead a structured and ordered life.

Work and personal lives are rigidly divided.

There is a proper time for every activity. When the business day ends, you are expected to leave the office. If you must remain after normal closing, it indicates that you did not plan your day properly.

The German Home

ü  Germans take great pride in their homes.

ü  They are kept neat and tidy at all times, with everything in its appointed place.

ü  In a culture where most communication is rather formal, the home is the place where one can relax and allow your individualism to shine.

ü  Only close friends and relatives are invited into the sanctity of the house, so it is the one place where more informal communication may occur.

ü  There are many unwritten rules surrounding the outward maintenance of one's home.

ü  It is imperative that common areas such as sidewalks, pavements, corridors (in apartments), and steps be kept clean at all times.

                German Etiquette & Customs

1.       Meeting Etiquette

ü  Greetings are formal.

ü  A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

ü  Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.

ü  In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group.

ü  When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children.

                Gift Giving Etiquette

ü  If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers.

ü  Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.

ü  Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.

ü  Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.

ü  Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

ü  If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine.

ü  Gifts are usually opened when received.

                Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a German's house:

ü  Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early.

ü  Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained. 

ü  Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

                Table manners

ü  Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.

ü  Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

ü  Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says 'guten appetit' (good appetite).

ü  At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her napkin in her lap before doing so yourself.

ü  Do not rest your elbows on the table.

ü  Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork.

ü  Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender.

ü  Finish everything on your plate.

ü  Rolls should be broken apart by hand.

ü  Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the knife.

ü  The host gives the first toast.

ü  An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

ü  The most common toast with wine is 'Zum Wohl!' ('good health').

ü  The most common toast with beer is 'Prost!' ('good health').

ü  Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany

                Relationships & Communications

ü  Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business.

ü  They will be interested in your academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in business.

ü  Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it is imperative that they understand your level relative to their own.

ü  Germans do not have an open-door policy. People often work with their office door closed. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering.

ü  German communication is formal.

ü  Following the established protocol is critical to building and maintaining business relationships.

ü  As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.

ü  Germans will be direct to the point of bluntness.

ü  Expect a great deal of written communication, both to back up decisions and to maintain a record of decisions and discussions.

                Business Meeting Etiquette

ü  Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

ü  Letters should be addressed to the top person in the functional area, including the person's name as well as their proper business title.

ü  If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be written in German.

ü  Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it could jeopardize your business relationship.

ü  Meetings are generally formal.

ü  Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow your German colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

ü  Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings.

ü  At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their knuckles on the tabletop.

ü  There is a strict protocol to follow when entering a room:The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

ü  Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly equivalent.

                Business Negotiation

ü  Do not sit until invited and told where to sit. There is a rigid protocol to be followed.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.

ü  Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic.

ü  Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in the briefest of small talk. They will be interested in your credentials.

ü  Make sure your printed material is available in both English and German.

ü  Contracts are strictly followed.

ü  You must be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol. Germans are detail- oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.

ü  Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of the company.

ü  Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter.

ü  Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive.

ü  Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

                 Dress Etiquette

ü  Business dress is understated, formal and conservative.

ü  Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.

ü  Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses.

ü  Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories.

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette

                Welcome to our guide to Germany. This is useful for anyone researching German culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Germany on business, for a visit or even hosting German colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all German people you may meet!

                Facts and Statistics

Location:  Central Europe, bordering Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km.

Capital:   Berlin

Climate:  temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind.

Population:  82,424,609 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish,

Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish).

Religions:  Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Government:  federal republic

                Languages in Germany

                The official language of Germany is German, with over 95% of the population speaking German as their first language. Minority languages include Sorbian, spoken by 0.09% in the east of Germany; North and West Frisian, spoken around the Rhine estuary by around 10,000 people, or 0.01%, who also speak German.

                Danish is spoken by 0.06%, mainly in the area along the Danish border. Romani, an indigenous language is spoken by around 0.08%. Immigrant languages include Turkish, which is spoken by around 1.8%, and Kurdish, by 0.3%.

                German Society & Culture

A Planning Culture

In many respects, Germans can be considered the masters of planning.

This is a culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day.

Careful planning, in one's business and personal life, provides a sense of security.

Rules and regulations allow people to know what is expected and plan their life accordingly.

Once the proper way to perform a task is discovered, there is no need to think of doing it any other way.

Germans believe that maintaining clear lines of demarcation between people, places, and things is the surest way to lead a structured and ordered life.

Work and personal lives are rigidly divided.

There is a proper time for every activity. When the business day ends, you are expected to leave the office. If you must remain after normal closing, it indicates that you did not plan your day properly.

The German Home

ü  Germans take great pride in their homes.

ü  They are kept neat and tidy at all times, with everything in its appointed place.

ü  In a culture where most communication is rather formal, the home is the place where one can relax and allow your individualism to shine.

ü  Only close friends and relatives are invited into the sanctity of the house, so it is the one place where more informal communication may occur.

ü  There are many unwritten rules surrounding the outward maintenance of one's home.

ü  It is imperative that common areas such as sidewalks, pavements, corridors (in apartments), and steps be kept clean at all times.

                German Etiquette & Customs

1.       Meeting Etiquette

ü  Greetings are formal.

ü  A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

ü  Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.

ü  In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group.

ü  When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children.

                Gift Giving Etiquette

ü  If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers.

ü  Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.

ü  Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.

ü  Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.

ü  Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

ü  If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine.

ü  Gifts are usually opened when received.

                Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a German's house:

ü  Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early.

ü  Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained. 

ü  Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

                Table manners

ü  Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.

ü  Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

ü  Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says 'guten appetit' (good appetite).

ü  At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her napkin in her lap before doing so yourself.

ü  Do not rest your elbows on the table.

ü  Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork.

ü  Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender.

ü  Finish everything on your plate.

ü  Rolls should be broken apart by hand.

ü  Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the knife.

ü  The host gives the first toast.

ü  An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

ü  The most common toast with wine is 'Zum Wohl!' ('good health').

ü  The most common toast with beer is 'Prost!' ('good health').

ü  Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany

                Relationships & Communications

ü  Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business.

ü  They will be interested in your academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in business.

ü  Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it is imperative that they understand your level relative to their own.

ü  Germans do not have an open-door policy. People often work with their office door closed. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering.

ü  German communication is formal.

ü  Following the established protocol is critical to building and maintaining business relationships.

ü  As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.

ü  Germans will be direct to the point of bluntness.

ü  Expect a great deal of written communication, both to back up decisions and to maintain a record of decisions and discussions.

                Business Meeting Etiquette

ü  Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

ü  Letters should be addressed to the top person in the functional area, including the person's name as well as their proper business title.

ü  If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be written in German.

ü  Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it could jeopardize your business relationship.

ü  Meetings are generally formal.

ü  Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow your German colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

ü  Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings.

ü  At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their knuckles on the tabletop.

ü  There is a strict protocol to follow when entering a room:The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

ü  Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly equivalent.

                Business Negotiation

ü  Do not sit until invited and told where to sit. There is a rigid protocol to be followed.

ü  Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

ü  Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.

ü  Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic.

ü  Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in the briefest of small talk. They will be interested in your credentials.

ü  Make sure your printed material is available in both English and German.

ü  Contracts are strictly followed.

ü  You must be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol. Germans are detail- oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.

ü  Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of the company.

ü  Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter.

ü  Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive.

ü  Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

                 Dress Etiquette

ü  Business dress is understated, formal and conservative.

ü  Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.

ü  Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses.

ü  Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories.